Millport Breaks

19/08/2025

** Edit, now booked **
Last minute availability due to a cancellation in Beside the Bay !
4th -7th or 8th September has become available in Beside the Bay, a ground floor apartment with a sea view out to Kames Bay, sleeps two as a couple, and I welcome a dog.
(Obviously the dog can't come himself. The lack of opposable thumbs would make him struggle with the keysafe , for one thing ...)
With a cosy wood burner in case it's chilly in the evening, it's just the cosiest, nicest spot for two.
Or one! ( Just not only the dog, we've been over this, haven't we... )
As a solo traveller myself, I appreciate the feeling of safety I always get in Millport. It's a great place to be by yourself, but not lonely.
Three nights £220, four nights ,£290.
Please email for information or to book, as I'm back at work and can't take a phone call ..
[email protected]
Licence number : NA00221F

16/08/2025

Haha!!😄

Country & Western weekend in full swing here! 🤠🍻

And remember… if anyone’s drunk, blame Linda 😉

10/08/2025

Shared from North Ayrshire Heritage site, it's apparently World Lion Day!

Today is World Lion Day, and while North Ayrshire can't claim to have lions prowling around, we do have one prowling lion on the Isle of Great Cumbrae!

Situated just outside the town of Millport, this rock formation definitely has the look of a prowling lion! It is believed to be about 65 million years old and is a d**e of labradorite which has intruded into the existing red sandstone. The ice age wore down the softer sandstone to expose the d**e which has been weathered to look like a prowling lion.

07/08/2025

Many thanks to Katie O'Connor for allowing me to share her fantastic picture of Kames Bay a few days ago. The flood defences steps make a great place to sit and watch sunsets, and it's sheltered a bit from any wind!
Just the best spot for a bit of wool gathering as my mum used to call it.

20/07/2025

I arrived yesterday for a couple of night's stay in Beside the Bay.
It was grey and overcast but dry and since Boyd at The Dancing Midge cafe told me rain was forecast for today, I decided to strike while the iron was hot as they say, and do my walk up to the Glaidstone.
It was really humid. As ever, about half way up I was hot, sweaty and slightly regretting not having brought water.
Or a picnic, even, I reflected as I climbed the seemingly endless hill.
But as usual, I got my second wind and stopped several times to say hello to the coos. The views, even on a cloudy day, are amazing and there's a definite feeling of accomplishment when you reach the top of the island. I came down the other side. I was very warm and the slight drizzle that arrived as I got to Ferry Road was actually quite welcome.
It probably wasn't the best idea to decide that now was a good time to swop old mattress for lovely new one.
By the time I'd wrestled the old one out and got the new one on, I was even hotter. I considered taking my trousers and tee shirt off to continue fighting with the shrink wrapped covering on the new mattress, but I reminded myself of the time I did that at Rose Cottage, and how badly that had ended for the poor postman. 😬
So I contented myself with a bit of swearing, a lot of groaning and a lot of saying ohgodohgodohnodeargod.
Finally it was on.
A quick trip to stock up on wine and milk ( two essentials in life, surely?) and I was ready for a paddle at Kames Bay.
Oh my , it was so good. So cool. So refreshing.
According to my phone, I did nearly 20k steps yesterday.
Today I've done about six. Steps , that is, not thousand. ☺️

05/07/2025

I've sneaked down for a little overnight stay today.
After Mr Millport Breaks passed away, friends asked kindly if I felt his presence at all. .As Mr MB was not the best communicator when he was alive, frequently forgetting to tell me Very Important Details, I was always a bit doubtful about his ability to conjure up robins and white feathers etc.
However today as I walked the newly cleared path to Farland Point, I felt his presence lingering , as I recalled that we used to do this walk regularly together.
After we had enjoyed a big breakfast at Garrison House Café ,
Mr MB would stride along breathing in the sea air and breaking wind unexpectedly and with great satisfaction, declaring it was" better out than in".
This was highly debatable I thought, especially if you were behind him on the track.
I finished off my day with a fish supper and mushy peas which was delicious, and another of Mr MB's favourite things. .
Enjoy your tea, whatever you're having!

24/06/2025

**** all dates now booked, thanks for all enquiries,! ****
I've had a little cancellation for September in Beside the Bay, a ground floor apartment with a pretty sea view to Kames Bay. ( Sleeps two as a couple)
These are my first available dates, and I'm sorry, I don't have September weekend either, before anyone asks!
So I now have from.: Monday 15th September through till : the morning of Friday 26th September, or any three or four or seven days within these dates.
Three nights is a jolly reasonable £220, and I welcome a little dog , even though I am unashamedly a cat lady and will force photos of said cats on anyone who shows even the faintest interest .
Sorry again. 😸
Could you email me at [email protected]
Or WhatsApp me on 07757216105 if you'd like to book?
Licence number: NA 00221F

15/06/2025

Those Garrison House Café staff keeping spirits up even on a rainy weekend! 😂

14/06/2025

The weather was horrendous today. Having braved the health walk at the park and indulged in coffee and scones after it in Callendar House cafe, I was struck at how unappetising the accompanying jam was.
When I got home I set to cutting out a lot of the rhubarb in my garden- Dickens the cat looked on witheringly as that's where he likes to hide from the rain .
But it was a perfect afternoon to make rhubarb and ginger jam , so I got stuck in. .
I can't use Granny Boyle's jam cauldron any more as it's only suitable for a gas cooker, so I used my second next largest saucepan instead.
I made a horrible mess getting the jam in the pots. Some quite rude words escaped from my mouth, but luckily no cats were witness to this.
After I'd finished, I had some toast with warm rhubarb and ginger jam, and tea .
It was as good as I'd hoped. I might take my own pot when I go to the cafe next time..
The rest of course will be in a welcome basket coming to Beside the Bay soon!

01/06/2025

***all dates in August are booked now, I have some mid September dates left**
Beside the Bay has a short break in August, due to a cancellation: Wednesday 6th - Saturday 9th August.
( Only these dates available)
Sleeping two as a couple, Beside the Bay is just perfect for a little mini break, with a sea view, and it's ground floor too.
Who needs the queue at the airport? The struggle to remove your shoes for security, watched by a stony faced security guard? The two hour flight squashed into your seat and with a toddler playing the Crazy Frog song incessantly in the seat behind?
No, come to Millport and put your feet up. Stroll to the pub for some grub. Walk across the beach with the dug.
Beside the Bay sleeps two as a couple, and I welcome a dog free of charge.
Three nights £220.
NAC00221F
http://millportbreaks.promotemyplace.com

24/05/2025

I popped down for a little overnight stay today to read the meter and check the water and smoke alarms.....and although this was not really my intention, today has been ( ahem) :
All About The Cakes.
I headed straight for Garrison House Café as soon as I arrived, eagerly anticipating my usual brunch of coffee and roll and sausage. After eating this, I recklessly decided to sample the sumptuous Victoria Sponge, which I have had before and enjoyed.
After losing myself momentarily in the light sponge and buttercream, I became aware there was a fund raising cake sale in the grounds- for two young girls on the island who are battling serious illness.
I hot footed it out and bought another ...few ..ok FOUR. I bought FOUR more cupcakes ok?
Stop judging me!
The cake sale raised a whopping £1,300 for the very worthy cause and I have eaten way too many sweet things and I don't care.